California electrician credentials
C-10 License vs California General Electrician Certification
A lot of search results mash these together. They are not the same credential, and studying the wrong one is an expensive mistake.
Last reviewed June 2026
The plain-English difference
General Electrician certification
This is the worker credential. It is handled by the DIR/DLSE Electrician Certification Unit. The General Electrician exam tests electrical work covered by the NEC, with heavy weight on Installation and calculations.
C-10 contractor license
This is the contractor credential. It is handled by CSLB. It is for the business side of electrical contracting: qualifying individual, business setup, bonding, contract rules, and contractor law.
How to tell which one you need
- You want to prove 8,000 hours and test as a working electrician: General Electrician certification.
- You want to run an electrical contracting business: C-10 contractor license.
- You are studying NEC installation questions and calculations: General Electrician.
- You are studying law, contracts, bonds, and business rules: C-10.
California next steps
- California requirements8,000 hours, DIR approval, Pearson VUE scheduling, and exam rules.
- Practice testStart with the buying-intent page for California practice-test searchers.
- Free diagnosticFind the weak domains before paying for prep.
- Online prepHow to judge California prep platforms before buying.
- Failed the exam60-day retake window and recovery plan.
- Can you bring your code book?Current provided-reference rule from the May 2026 bulletin.
Make sure you are studying the right exam
The California diagnostic is built for the DIR General Electrician exam, not C-10 contractor law.